John Horse, as he appeared around 1840. Source of the original sketch unknown.
The engraving, entitled "Gopher John Seminole Interpreter," first
appeared in Sprague's 1848 history of the war, attributed to the firm of N. Orr
& Richardson. A similar engraving by Orr appeared in Giddings' 1858 history,
with slight alterations. For a comparison of the two, see the more
detailed commentary in key images.

Border Etiquette

While John Horse inspired fantasies of racially inherited servility in Cora
Montgomery, other residents of the frontier were too familiar with his record to
fall prey to such visions. As a well-armed black leader, John Horse was often
subject to derision and violence. One of his most dangerous brushes with the
Americans took place late in 1851. Duval had contracted Warren Adams, an
experienced slave catcher, to recover the Black Seminoles. Adamsí reputation
temporarily soared when he seized John Horse in November, after the black leader
was wounded in a bar fight in Piedras Negras.

Coacoochee located his friend in the Eagle Pass jail. He agreed to ransom John
Horse for $500 and a promise to Adams that he and John would deliver a quantity
of fugitive slaves. Coacoochee paid the ransom in gold coins that were covered
in blood. When a medical examiner told Adams that the blood was human, the
notorious slave-catcher fled the region.